Ratings of SW RPG products (WEG D6 version)
Platt's Starport Guide, ©1995 West End Games
Rating: 6 (out of 10)
Contains extended info on some Galactic Starports. Can give some good adventure ideas, but is really the most useful if you use the detailed characters contained therin with a smuggling campaign. Has some interesting production scetches. A supplement I won for winning a short story contest. It is signed by the Designer, Peter Schweighofer.
Platt's Smugglers Guide, ©1997 West End Games
Rating: 7 (out of 10)
Everything you want to know about running a smuggling campaign. Contains smuggling templates and info cards. Not much beyond that worth noting. This is one of two supplements I won for a short story contest I entered. It is signed by Peter Schweighofer, the Designer.
Tales of the Jedi Companion, ©1996 West End Games
Rating: 10 (out of 10)
Don't even think about running a Jedi campaign without this Companion. Not only does it have awesome color plates from the Tales of the Jedi comics, but it has information about a time in the galaxy (thousands of years ago) that is not in any other SW:RPG product. The real strength of the book is that all the Force powers in SW:RPG are contained within. This is probably my favorite supplement.
The DarkStryder Campaign Deluxe Boxed Set, ©1995 West End Games
Rating: 8 (out of 10)
This campaign setting is one of two by WEG. The other is Lords of the Expanse. Let me telll you that I think this storyline is very creative. The whole idea is that your players are on a ship called the FarStar in Wild Space and they have to hunt down the DarkStryder technology and report back to the New Republic. I personally will probably never run this campaign. My campaign is busy enough. BUT, I got tons of cool adventure and character ideas from this set. I would recommend it to buy only if you planned on actually playing the campaign. The reason I got it is that WEG had one of its 60% off sales.
Alien Encounters: The STAR WARS Aliens Compendium, ©1998 West End Games
Rating: 8 (out of 10)
This sourcebook combines many others to provide a source for many (but not all) aliens of the Star Wars Universe. There are over 400 aliens that have been created for Star Wars. This book only has about one quarter of those, and many of the ones I want are in two of the Galaxy Guides about aliens they chose not to use. However, for all the aliens not listed, it tells you where to find info about them. An excellent choice if you feel you are being inaccurate or have stayed away from aliens for fear of not being able to portray them correctly.
Planets Collection, ©1996 West End Games
Rating: 6 (out of 10)
I must admit I was quite disappointed with this one when I mail-ordered it from WEG. Its definitely not worth the $25. Its deceiving in that it is not a compilation of familiar Star Wars planets. Its info about 40 planets/systems that were in the Planets of the Galaxy Volumes. As a result, its good if you need some planets without a lot of work, but doesn't have the hard core info about commonly known planets you desire. Its main perk is nicely done dice tables to make up planets quickly, but this doesn't overcome what would be really nice: a Sourcebook about Star Wars planetslike Coruscant, Sullust, and Bothawui. If you are interested in the Elrood sector near the CSA, this sourcebook may be worth your while. However, you could just get Planets of the Galaxy Volume III.
The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook, ©1996 West End Games
Rating: 9 (out of 10)
This sourcebook is excellent. It will tell you anything you need to know about this series. I hadn't read these books in several years,
and this sourcebook helped me to be as accurate as possible. (You should still read the books though.) This book is $25, but it is has a lot of information and is a great buy!
The Star Wars Role-playing Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, ©1996 West End Games
Rating: 7 (out of 10)
The only sourcebook actually required. It is a pricy $30 basically because it is hardcover. It has a lot of pictures clogging the information in many places and this is why it gets a lower rating.
West End Games could have made it more price efficient. The rules contained within are a good starting point, however.
Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook, ©1997 West End Games
Rating: 9 (out of 10)
I bought this one because the group wanted a little change of pace. And let me tell you, SpecForce is not your ordinary Star Wars Role-playing campaign. This book is chocked full of lots of cool info about the Rebel SpecForces. It is strong in that it not only gives the usual stats, but is rather matter of fact about letting GM's know how to do well in setting up a SpecForce campaign. It is only $18 bucks too, which makes it cheaper than most of the other cool Sourcebooks. For anyone who is into combat, or just would like a change of pace...check it out.
The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, revised, ©1992 West End Games
Rating: 9 (out of 10)
A wonderful sourcebook, especially if you need to run the military or are really into space combat. Lots of great tactics, rules for dogfighting, and info on the structure of the Alliance. At only $22 dollars, an awesome buy!
Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook, ©1993 West End Games
Rating: 6 (out of ten)
This sourcebook will tell you everything you could ever want to know about the History, Structure, and stuff
of the Corporate Sector and the Authority. It's good point is that it has a lot of really cool technical stuff, weapons, and vehicles, not available in the parts of the Galaxy most people are used. It also has some cool rules for quick-drawing that make the game more interesting.
It does have several major drawbacks. First, the History is pretty bureaucratic and, therefore, boring. Second, the majority of the book revolves around Han Solo and his time in the Corporate Sector. If you are planning on a campaign in a time other than the time Han Solo was there, this sourcebook is a waste of money.
Heroes and Rogues, ©1995 West End Games
Rating: 5 (out of 10)
This supplement is fine if you lack creativity enough to design your own templates beyond those in the main sourcebook.
The only thing it is really good for is if you need an NPC or a template really fast. Other than that, an $18 pair of socks is a better buy :)
Game Master Screen for Second Edition, ©1992 West End Games
Rating: 7 (out of 10)
Good to have when you forget a few rules and you need them right at your finger tips. It also comes with a booklet of quick adventure ideas so you can play right when the mood strikes you.
It could have a few more important rules on it, and it could do without the starship, character and equipment/weapon logs. These logs
are a waste of space that could bring the price down. Why have them when you don't have permission to photocopy them, and you could just use paper!